Surgery for Meola; future uncertain

January 22, 20107:39PM EST

which the Wizards lost 3-2 to D.C. United at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif., on Nov. 14 -- that he felt he was fit to play in the championship game. Gansler, though, stuck with Meola's replacement, Bo Oshoniyi, who helped carry the Wizards to the final.

An MLS original and a five-time All-Star (1996-98, 2000, 2002), Meola has been with the Wizards for the past six seasons (1999-2004). He was in goal for Kansas City when it won the city's only MLS Cup title in 2000. He also helped the Wizards to their first Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup championship in 2004.

For the time being, Meola, 35, is simply trying to get fit and focus on the future. He believes that he still has what it takes to play in MLS and at the international level, and he's working now to get himself in the best possible physical condition to do so.

"Right now my goal is to just get myself back on my feet, which should happen shortly, and get going again," Meola said. "I'm confident that something will happen and I'm confident that I'll get back to the national team. I have a lot of soccer left in me."

Jonathan Nierman is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.